Having to sell off property to make up for debts is never an easy thing to do. Especially if the debt brings with it serious allegations that draw attention from the Attorney General’s office. However, it seems like Michigan’s Albion College has its hands tied, and unfortunately, the brunt of the blow will have to be mitigated over the private college’s equestrian center.

As loyalists of equestrian sport, fans know how dearly loved our bovine buddies are. Naturally, giving them the best care and facilities is always at the top of the priority list. But Albion College’s new president seems to be more keen on losing the burden of debts of the institution, and its equestrian center looks like the only dispensable part that could help with the goal.

Albion College waits to part ways with its equestrian facility

An article by MLive from November 15 has revealed that Wayne Webster, the current president of Albion, has decided to sell the college’s Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center, located at 11039 29 Mile Rd., South Albion, as a step toward reducing financial deficits. Albion College spokesperson Melissa Anderson said that the sale would help to “remove overhead costs.”

“It was just removing the overhead cost of running a facility when we’re looking for liquidity,” Anderson said. However, from what is known yet, the college wishes to lease the facility after selling it to ensure that the college does not have to bear the running costs to maintain the equestrian center.

Moreover, the program’s associate director, Carolyn Killewald, also noted that equestrian activities in the college will continue. The institution hopes to sell the equestrian center that houses 32 horses and 79 stalls for seven figures and then lease it again. The move comes because of what the college has been going through for more than a year.

In 2022, Attorney General Dana Nessel was informed that the private college was violating state laws by using endowment funds and gifts from donors to cover its budget shortfall. Naturally, the information ruffled a lot of feathers, while Albion denied the allegations. The issue lingered, and when Webster assumed office last year, he inherited a deficit of about $13 million.

Right off the bat, he expressed intentions to overcome the troubles. “Not one person can solve any of these challenges,” he said. “These are things that as a community we have to be collectively working together to solve,” Webster stated. However, for equestrian fans, this is a blow to the guts, as their love for the equine creatures can often prompt them to go to extensive lengths.

Community members aren’t shy about aiding the horses

When Hurricane Helene ravaged the country last month, equestrian centers from around the USA scurried to ensure their horses’ safety. The workers at the Baltimore Equestrian Center did everything they could to get the horses to somewhere safe. “I was just watching the river level and trying to see if it’s gonna go into the barn or not and if we’re gonna have to take all the horses out,” said one of the crew members at the equestrian center. Noting how things were even bleaker for the rest of the country, another of the workers said, “We were insulated from a lot of it for a while, and slowly started hearing about the rest of the area and realizing just how lucky we had been.”

Then again, when a massive fire engulfed the Westmoreland Equestrian Center in Pittsburgh, community members flocked to know if the horses in the stable were safe. After 7 hours of intense battle, the firefighters were able to bring the flames under control, but one of the owners of the center was left horrified by the experience. “It was just unbelievable to see it engulfed in flames. Horses are like family,” she said. How sad are you to know that Albion College has to take such a drastic step to save itself? How do you think it can keep its equestrian program alive? Tell us below!